Vice President of Product Development

Five Star Recruiting and Staffing; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based incentives

Executive-level leadership role

Job summary

Five Star Recruiting and Staffing seeks a Vice President of Product Development & Innovation to lead strategic evolution of its product portfolio. This executive will shape the roadmap, oversee multidisciplinary teams, and drive development from concept through commercialization.

This high-visibility role guides R&D, engineering, and product development while championing customer-centric innovation and technical rigor in a manufacturing and logistics environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Design, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in product development with 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing, packaging, logistics, or related sectors.
• Proven track record launching new products and managing full lifecycle development.

Responsibilities

• Architect and execute a forward-looking product innovation strategy aligned with market demands and long-term goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams through ideation, prototyping, testing, and launches.
• Mentor engineering and R&D teams, drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Integrate emerging materials and design methodologies to enhance performance and sustainability.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support for seamless product introductions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Product development

Lean Six Sigma

Agile

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Lean Product Development practices

Six Sigma

Agile

Job description

Vice President of Product Development & Innovation

Job Type: Executive Leadership | Full-Time

Compensation: $200K+

A confidential manufacturing and logistics solutions provider is seeking a Vice President of Product Development & Innovation to lead the strategic evolution of its product portfolio. This executive will shape the innovation roadmap, oversee multidisciplinary engineering teams, and drive new product development from concept through commercialization.

Role Summary

This is a high‑visibility, high‑impact leadership role responsible for building the next generation of load‑securement and containment technologies. You will guide R&D, engineering, and product development functions while championing a culture of creativity, technical rigor, and customer‑centric innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and execute a forward‑looking product innovation strategy aligned with market demands and long‑term business goals
• Lead cross‑functional teams through ideation, research, prototyping, testing, and full product launch
• Manage and mentor engineering and R&D teams, fostering accountability, performance, and continuous improvement
• Identify and integrate emerging materials, technologies, and design methodologies to enhance product performance and sustainability
• Partner closely with Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support to ensure seamless product introduction and market adoption
• Oversee product development budgets, timelines, and resource planning
• Serve as the organizational champion for innovation, leveraging customer insights, industry trends, and competitive intelligence
• Direct intellectual property strategy and product lifecycle management
• Ensure compliance with relevant certifications, safety standards, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Design, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of product development experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership
• Strong background in industrial manufacturing, packaging, logistics, or related sectors
• Proven success launching new products and managing full lifecycle development
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive cross‑functional alignment
• Experience with Lean Product Development, Six Sigma, Agile, or similar methodologies
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and problem‑solving skills

What’s Offered

• Executive‑level leadership role with significant influence on company direction
• Compensation of $200K+ with performance‑based incentives
• Opportunity to shape the future of freight securement and sustainability within the logistics industry